Advertisement

MP Clwyd's patient review

Welsh NHS will learn from report on failings in England - minister

Health Minister Lesley Griffiths says the Welsh NHS will learn from a damning report into neglect at English hospitals. She said the health service in Wales will use the Francis Report into the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to avoid 'systemic failure.'

The minister said she would 'comment fully before summer recess' and would hold an Assembly debate to work out 'the Welsh approach' to any problems.

As Assembly Members, we all know from our post bags things sadly do go wrong. There can be no simple guarantees in what is a people run system. The vast majority of our staff do an excellent job under great pressure, sometimes, in challenging circumstances. What we must insure against is the risk of any wide ‘systemic’ failure. Everyone, public, patient and NHS employee, places Safe Care, Compassionate Care at the centre of our NHS Wales culture. This means a culture which is open, transparent and learns from mistakes.

Care and compassion is not something which can be mandated upon and which employee would not say this is what they do daily? There is a leadership challenge for NHS Boards and Trusts and all organisations who deliver care in Wales. I want NHS Wales to demonstrate how the public can be confident we are listening actively, being vigilant for every learning opportunity and addressing any problems fairly with passion and pace, both now and into the future.